The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend current statutes regarding court-ordered treatment proceedings for mental health patients. Specifically, it would allow the court to waive the requirement for testimony from an acquaintance witness if the court determines that the necessary standard for issuing a treatment order has been met through clear and convincing evidence from other sources. This change aims to streamline the process by reducing the burden of witness testimony while still ensuring that sufficient evidence is presented.

Additionally, the bill would reduce the minimum number of acquaintance witnesses required from two to one, thereby simplifying the evidentiary requirements during hearings. The language of the current statute that mandates the testimony of "two or more witnesses" would be replaced with a requirement for "at least one witness." These updates are intended to facilitate more efficient court proceedings while maintaining the integrity of the evaluation process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-539
Senate Engrossed Version: 36-539